Self-adjusting mid-pew support



April 16, 196s D. E. WAY ET AL.

SELF-ADJUSTING yMID-FEW SUPPORT Filed Nov. 23, 1966 Hammond A. Berry BY @wd/071.9,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,378,223 SELF-ADJUSTING MID-PEW SUPPORT Douglas E. Way, Cherokee Park, and Hammond A. Berry,

Bonneville, Miss., assignors to American Seating Company, Grand Rapids, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 596,623 2 Claims. (Cl. 248-361) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE An elongated seat which is suspended upon a floor by end panels is provided in its central portion with a depending hollow panel which receives in telescoping relation a base segment which is anchored to the floor by means passing vertically through the segment and into the hoor, the telescoping parts being secured by fastening means passing through overlapping portions of the panel and base segment.

This invention relates to a self-adjusting mid-pew support, and more particularly to a support for the Central portion of an elongated pew, bench or seat.

Because of uneven and irregular floor cond-itions encountered in churches and other buildings, the provision of a support for the central portion of an elongated pew, etc. presents a problem, and the present practice is to scribe and cut the middle support in an effort to fit the floor conditions while providing the necessary support. The operation is a tedious one and satisfactory results are very often not obtained.

We have discovered a method and means for providing the central support in an accurate manner and with a minimum of effort and expense by providing first a base segment which can be anchored to the door and suspending from the middle of the pew a hollow panel which slidably receives the base segment so that the two parts when brought together can be effectively united by screws, etc. The separate step of anchoring the slide base to the Hoor meets the problem of floor irregularities, and when the hollow suspended panel from the middle of the pew is placed over the base segment and secured thereto, an accurate support is provided.

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a process and means for supporting the mid portion of a pew or elongated seat. A still further object is to provide a method and means by which a slide base may be anchored to a oor and a hollow suspended panel from the mid portion of a pew telescoped over the segment and secured thereto. Other specific objects and advantages will appear `as the specication proceeds.

The invention is shown, in an illustrative embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pew which is elongated and which employs a central support embodying our invention; FIG. 2, a sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 2 2 of FIG. 1, a portion of the panel being broken away; FIG. 3, an exploded perspective view of the base segment or panel attached to the floor and a portion of the hollow middle support panel thereabove; FIG. 4, a View similar to FIG. 3 lbut showing the base and hollow panel in telescoping relation; and FIG. 5, a detail sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 5-5 of FIG. 2..

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In the illustration given, 10 designates a pew or elongated seat provided at its ends with end panels 11 and in its central portion with a support panel 12. The support panel 12 is preferably formed in two parts, an upper hollow part which is designated as 12a and a lower base panel or base segment 12b.

The base segment or panel 12b is anchored to the floor by fastening means. For example, if the door is a wooden hoor, wood screws 13 may be passed through flat washers 1e and thence through the base 12b and into the door. If the iioor is concrete or stone, etc., lead anchors or other suitable means may be employed for firmly securing the base segment 12b in place on the floor.

After the segment 12b is secured in position, the bench 10 may be lowered to bring the telescoping panel portion 12a over the segment 12b, as illustrated in FIGS. l and 2. Wood screws 15 or other su-itable fastening means may then be passed through the hollow panel 12a and the base panel 12b, as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5. The slight play between the telescoping members 12a and 12b enables the two members 12a and 12b to be brought together, and when the fastening means 15 are passed through the members, as shown in FIG. 5, a solid union is effected between these parts, and the central portion of the pew or seat is supported without danger of its sagging, etc.

By providing the base segment 12h of smaller cross sect-ion than the above segment 12a, it is relatively easy to anchor the smaller segment to the iioor in spite of irregularities, and the telescoping upper section 12a conceals any slight canting or variation from the vertical of the member 12b. The base segment 12b automatically adjusts to inclined oors having either the regular or reverse incline and without using special supports. The fastening thus provided is a concealed fastening and there is no interference in cleaning, etc.

While in the foregoing specification, we have set out procedure and structure in considerable detail for the purpose of illustrating an embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

We claim:

1. In an elongated seat suspended upon a Hoor by end panels, a depending hollow panel carried by a control portion of said seat, a base segment anchored upon Athe tloor in alignment with said hollow panel and in overlapping telescoping relation therewith, and fastening means passing through said over lapping portions of said panel and base segment, said base segment being anchored to the oor by means passing vertically through the segment and into the floor.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said base segment is of smaller cross section than the hollow panel above to permit canting of the hollow panel relative to the base segment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,627,900 2/1953 Sutherland 297-450 X 3,137,091 6/1964 Clare et al 248-188-2 3,252,736 5/1966 Schrock 297-450 X CASMIR A. NUMBERG, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,378 ,223 April 16 1968 Douglas E. Way et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 45, "control" should read central Signed and sealed this 19th day of August 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

